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| Dark Passion Play | 
 enlarge | Artist: Nightwish
Label: Roadrunner Records
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $11.08
You Save: $7.90 (42%)
New (38) Used (13) Collectible (1) from $7.80
Avg. Customer Rating:  166 reviews
Sales Rank: 1349
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 5 x 0.4
MPN: 179842
UPC: 016861798420
EAN: 0016861798420
ASIN: B000URDEB0
Release Date: October 2, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Factory sealed, brand NEW! This one IDENTICAL to the one listed, BUT manufactured for BMG with their UPC (barcode).
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| Customer Reviews:
 Ug. October 4, 2007
17 out of 37 found this review helpful
This album makes me so sad... The music is still amazing, but the vocals ruin it for me. Anette has such a common sounding rock voice, it's really tragic. I can't imagine what the band was thinking when they hired this singer. :(
 New singer Anette Olzon may be the answer to future success October 9, 2007
16 out of 22 found this review helpful
THE BAND: Tuomas Holopainen (keyboards, piano), Emppu Vuorinen (guitars), Marco Hietala (bass, vocals), Jukka Nevalainen (drums & percussion), Anette Olzon (vocals). Origin - Finland.
THE DISC: (2007) 13 tracks clocking in at approximately 75 minutes. Included with the disc is a 22-page booklet containing song titles/credits, song lyrics, numerous pages of artwork pertaining to songs, 2 band color photos, and thank you's. Recorded between Petrax (Hollola), Legendary E-Major (Kerava), Finnvox (Helsinki) and Abbey Road Studios (London). All music and lyrics written by Holopainen (except "Whoever Brings The Night" by Vuorinen, "The Islander" by Hietala, and "7 Days To The Wolves" by Holopainen & Hietala). The Passion Play Orchestra includes 26 violins, 13 violas and 14 cellos (and bass). The Metro Choir contains 42 voices, and an additional 12 members making up the Metro Gospel Choir. Album artwork by Janna & Gina Pitkanen. Label - Road Runner Records.
COMMENTS: It's usually tough replacing main members of a band. Exit singer Tarja Turunen; enter newbie Anette Olzon. Hardcore Nightwish fans might well dismiss newcomer Olzon, but they'll be missing out on one heck of an album. "Dark Passion Play" is grandiose in all aspects. There's nothing muddy about the production - whether you're listening to the heavy rhythm of the electric guitars, or the gentle acoustic moments - the sound is crisp to a fault. Jukka's drumming is once again flawless (his double-bass is the backbone of the band). The choir and vast orchestra fit beautifully in the background of every track. Olzon's vocals are a definite change of pace from Turunen's. Where Turunen leaned heavily on her operatic background, Olzon leans to the rock and pop side. But most importantly - it fits nicely and it works. The album opens with the near 14-minute stunning 5-section epic "The Poet & The Pendulum". The song begins with a soft orchestra joined by Vuorinen's trademark crunchy guitar riffs. In the middle of the "Pendulum" (section titled "The Pacific") is a delicate interlude highlighted by the choir soloist. Perhaps it would be more fitting to place this long melody at the end of the album. The band though choosing to lead off with it - a bold move to place this long piece in front as track 1. For me, "The Poet & The Pendulum" is the highlight of the album. "Dark Passion Play" features 3 singles released in Europe in - "Bye Bye Beautiful", "Amaranth" and "Eva". All 3 songs are in the 4-minute range... the first two mentioned being nicely structured symphonic power metal tracks ready for the radio; the third ("Eva") a ballad showcasing Olzon's voice. Hietala takes lead vocal duties on 2 tracks - the heavy "Master Passion Greed" (perhaps my least favorite track on the disc), and the Jethro Tull-esque "The Islander" (a nice surprise - I never knew he could sing like this). "Last Of The Wilds" is a nice up and down instrumental (with an gracious wood winds section tucked neatly in the middle). The album finishes with two 7-minute power ballads... both great songs... though ending the disc on a somber note. Overall - a great album, though leaning to the mainstream side of the power/symphonic metal genre. If long time Nightwish fans can let go of Tarja and accept Anette Olzon... they will treasure this album as well as others to come (5 stars).
Definitely a keeper November 9, 2007
16 out of 22 found this review helpful
Okay... I don't write many reviews but for this particular purchase, I felt I had to make an exception. Along with most other fans, I was worried about the future of Nightwish after all of the (somewhat) recent hullabaloo over the band's change of lead singer. Those worries, I am pleased to say, were completely unnecessary. Right up front I will say that this is one of the best albums I've had the pleasure of listening to. The opening song "Poet and the Pendulum" grabs you by the throat and holds you enthralled for its entire 14 minute duration. It is classic Nightwish - powerful and bombastic, soft and melancholy - full of musical twists and turns and amazing lyrics; epic in every sense of the word. Wow. And that is only the beginning.
I won't go into a track by track analysis because so many others have done a better job with that then I ever could (and these things are so subjective anyway). Let it suffice to say that unlike any other Nightwish album (and I own and love them all), there is not one single track on this album that I have any urge to skip over. Not one. Even after many repeated spins. There is so much variety in the musical styles presented here that the sound never becomes boring or repetitive. Yet it all the while maintains that distinctive flavor that is uniquely Nightwish; with the power to evoke a visceral response in the listener (me). That, to me, is quite an accomplishment.
Now, I don't really want to bring up any singer comparisons here because it has already been hashed to death (and not always in the most respectful fashion, which is a shame), but I will say, while not the soprano we're used to, Anette Olzon is a powerful vocalist in her own right. And as the new lead singer for Nightwish, she services the music very well. Exceptionally well, in fact. This is made all the more impressive considering the album was not tailored to her particular strengths. The songs were written and the music recorded before she was even brought on board. That being the case, I can't wait to see what the "new" Nightwish has in store for future albums where her input will have more consideration. But she does a very, very fine job here. Her voice is warm and accessible but can pack considerable punch. And her vocals blend with Marco's beautifully ("The Islander" made my jaw drop). I can't wait to hear more harmonizing from them in the future. Consider me a fan.
I know that certain aspects of this album are going to be nitpicked to death because of the controversy surrounding the band's lineup. But music is so subjective and everyone's tastes are so different. So I guess what I really would like to say is, regardless of any of the reviews you've read (mine included), if you are a fan of Nightwish or are someone just looking for some new music to try, you owe it to yourself to give this album a listen without bias (or at least with an open mind). Hopefully, you'll decide it's worth picking up. I did. And I couldn't be more pleased.
Wicked, twisted, addictive... November 9, 2007
15 out of 19 found this review helpful
This is a very special album, for those who can take it that is...I wasn't sure what to expect but judging form the picture of the artists online it was going to be quite a ride! I loved all the songs and the marriage of orchestra with hard metal and some make believe dialogue that made me feel as if I was watching a raunchy version of Lord of the Rings.
I cant recommend this album enough for those who think that symphonic power metal is delish, I am such a person. It's also a funny coincidence how so many bizarre and cool at the same time musicians emerge from Finland, it's quite a place for creative existence.
Poet and The Pendulum is glorious, starting off as an eerie fairly tale reminiscent of movies such as "The Company of Wolves" which is a dark take on the Little Red Ridinghood story as one can literally hear snow falling and soft whispers reeling in the bait, followed by something dark brooding nearby by. That is taken over by a glorious army of guitars wrenching the listener from make believe onto a battlefield of sound and energy. The latter part of the song reminded me of one of my favorite fantasy movies "Kull the Conqueror" which is a glorious marriage of orchestra and metal. The vocals are sweet and powerful which makes the sound glisten like a blade of an ax ready to strike imaginary forces. The song is loud and long with many different dynamics and themes, changing from a sad cello to a mosh pit showdown.
7 Days to the Wolves is another fantastic piece, it's different I know, so different in fact that people can have a hard time understanding it but I can blast it of as loud as my poor ears can take it and it even makes me walk faster if I'm listening to it on my ipod. There's no way that I can listen to it and not feel like I'm in a different universe. The guitars here are pure pleasure and give the song a movie like feel, for someone who loves soundtracks this one tasty morsel. The violin in this one song, about half way thought almost made me cry when it clashed with the guitar not to mention the vocals on top, oh man...good stuff.
The best part of this album is the crazy mix of sounds, from war ballet to battle music and ballads with an edge this is one cool piece of music. Honestly I love all the music on it but the two pieces I dissected a bit are my favorite, even my dad likes Nightwish, but hey he's a cool dude who is into martial arts and all this funky movie stuff, so it makes sense! For all the picky critics out there, go ahead, rip it apart but it only matters how each person perceives it, I don't want everyone to like this, it will make it common and washed out, I respect Nightwish for creating what they like to hear and I am proud to admit that I love all their creations. The effort and creativity breathe in this album, the full chorus and what I am imagining to be a huge string section adds seductiveness and fairy tale like charm that stands out, add a little heavy metal and presto, a winner!
Happy listening, don't forget your battle ax...
- Kasia S.
 Nightwish Neutered! October 12, 2007
14 out of 33 found this review helpful
When the members of Nightwish fired Tarja I was saddened but then these guys spent a whole year scouring the earth looking for a new singer, so how could they go wrong. Boy was I wrong! This is the best singer they could find? The idiotic tv series "American Idol" pumps out better singers each year. The music on "Dark Passion Play" is fantastic indeed but new singer Anette Olzon's average voice gets run over & buried by the bombastic music on this album song after song & it doesnt help that this album has the worst mastering ever heard by human ears. Terrible! What seperated Nightwish from all the other female fronted symphonic metal bands was Tarja's voice. Nightwish now sounds like Within Temptation except not as good. Tarja, you are truly missed!
R.I.P. Nightwish
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